Main menu

Sub menu

Charlie Baker is Not an ‘Enigma’

A story this past week on the eve of Gov.
Charlie Baker’s State of the State address in the Boston Globe stated that
although Gov. Charlie Baker is the most popular governor in the country (he has
an approval rating of close to 70 percent among Massachusetts residents), he
remains “an enigma.”

The central theme of the story boiled down
to this: What makes Charlie Baker do what he does — and why does he not have
political ambitions beyond the governorship?

No doubt the writer of the article had in
mind every Massachusetts governor of the past three decades: Michael Dukakis
ran for president; Bill Weld ran for U.S. senator, was a candidate for
ambassador to Mexico, and most recently was a candidate for vice-president on
the Libertarian Party ticket; Paul Cellucci became ambassador to Canada; Mitt.
Romney ran for president; and Deval Patrick is rumored to be a possible
presidential candidate.

By contrast, Charlie Baker long ago said he
has no designs on higher office beyond governor. To the political pundits,
Baker’s lack of higher aspirations no doubt is confounding, as is his attention
to the minutiae of state government.

We are not personal friends with Charlie
Baker, so we have no special insight into his personality, but we think it is
clear what it is that makes Charlie Baker who he is and do what he does: He
loves his wife, his children, his parents, his native hometown (Needham), his
adopted hometown (Swampscott, where he served as a selectman), his state, and
America.

He clearly wants to do the right thing for all
of them — so what’s so strange about that?

We would note that Charlie Baker’s devotion
to his job is in stark contrast to so many of the politicians in Washington.
Thankfully, he has recognized that politics is the art of compromise and it is
thanks to Gov. Baker’s ability and desire to work with the Democrats at the
State House, most notably House Speaker Bob DeLeo, that Massachusetts continues
to lead the nation in education, financial stability, and in so many other
areas that have improved the lives of our citizens.

Beacon Hill is indeed a shining beacon for
the rest of our nation and Charlie Baker unquestionably has been instrumental
in our state’s continued achievements and progress — and there is nothing
enigmatic about that.